The Atlantic Hurricane Database Re-analysis Project is an effort
to extend and revise the National Hurricane Center's North Atlantic hurricane
database (or HURDAT). Going back to 1851 and revisiting storms in more recent
years, information on tropical cyclones is revised using an enhanced collection
of historical meteorological data in the context of today's scientific
understanding of hurricanes and analysis techniques.

To receive email updates about progress in the Atlantic Hurricane Re-analysis
Project, send an email to Chris
Landsea.

What's New

April 2017 - The 2016 best tracks for the Atlantic basin and
the Northeast Pacific basin have been added into the HURDAT2 database.
Note: storms that formed within the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's
area of responsibility are not included in this update.

July 2016 - The 1956 to 1960 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been reanalyzed. Revisions to the hurricane database were accomplished by obtaining the original
observations collected - mainly by ships, weather stations, and the Hurricane Hunter Navy, Air Force, and Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) aircraft
reconnaissance planes - and assessing the storms based upon our understanding of hurricanes today. The reanalysis also allowed "discovering" of tropical storms and
hurricanes that occurred, but were not yet officially recognized as such in the official records. Ten new tropical storms during these five years were discovered and
added to the database. Eight hurricanes were identified as impacting the United States, the same as that originally identified. The hurricane with the worst impact
during these seasons was Audrey in 1957, which killed around 550 people in Louisiana and Texas. Audrey was downgraded from a Category 4 to a Category 3 hurricane on
the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale at landfall, as it is reassessed that it had maximum sustained surface winds of 110 kt (125 mph) and a central pressure of 946 mb.
Hurricane Donna in 1960 also was responsible for the deaths of at least 364 people in the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and the United States. Donna was reanalyzed as
a Category 4 in Florida (same as that originally), a Category 2 in North Carolina (downgraded from Category 3 originally), and a Category 2 in New York (downgraded
from Category 3 originally). At landfall in the Florida Keys, Donna is reassessed to have maximum surface winds of 125 kt (145 mph) and a central pressure of 930 mb.
Hurricane Gracie in 1959 was the only other landfalling major hurricane for the United States in these five seasons. Gracie was upgraded from a Category 3 to a
Category 4 at landfall in South Carolina with 115 kt (130 mph) maximum sustained winds and a central pressure of 951 mb. Sandy Delgado, Brenden Moses, Chris Landsea,
and the Best Track Change Committee all made substantial contributions toward the reanalysis of these hurricane seasons. This research is supported in part by the
NOAA Climate Program Office.

July 2016 - The 2015 best tracks for the Atlantic basin have been added into HURDAT2.

May 2016 - The 2015 best tracks for the Northeast Pacific basin have been added into HURDAT2.
Note: storms that formed within the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's
area of responsibility are not included in this update.

February 2016 - The 1959 Manzanillo hurricane - the deadliest landfall in the Eastern Pacific basin -
has been officially reanalyzed by Andrew Hagen, Josh Morgerman, Erik Sereno Trabaldo, and Jorge Abelardo Gonzalez. Minor track changes
and major intensity revisions were made, including a downward adjustment from Category 5 to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
for the hurricane at landfall.